Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 29 / Trend D. Khatinoglu, S. Isayev/
Iran has imported 4 billion bcm of gas from Turkmenistan since March 19, 2012, Deputy Oil Minister Javad Owji said, Mehr reported.
He said that Turkmenistan is currently exporting from 15 to 20 mcm of gas to Iran daily.
According to Iranian official statistics, Turkmenistan exported 11.8 bcm of gas to Iran during the last Solar year, which ended on March 19.
The current year's figure indicates more than 60 percent drop in Turkmenistan's gas exports to Iran.
Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said in early September 2012 that Turkmenistan halted gas exports to Iran. A month prior, Jawad Owji told Mehr news agency that from last winter Ashgabat cut gas supplies to Iran by 52 percent.
Mehr news agency reported at the same time that Iran's debts to Turkmenistan have surpassed $1 billion because of difficulties related to Iran's banking system being crippled by the international sanctions.
According to contracts signed between Iran and Turkmenistan, the latter is obliged to export 40 bcm of gas to Iran.
Two weeks ago Fars news agency reported citing the official within Iran's Oil Ministry, who said anonymously that Iran and Turkmenistan agreed to change the payment method, choosing the barter system.
Turkmenistan promised to renew gas exports to Iran. As part of the barter trade, Iran is obliged to send oil industry equipment to Turkmenistan, who in turn would export gas to its neighbor.
Turkmenistan has not made any official statements regarding this issue.
...